The Breath of Water | Neteyam

30 • Slight Awakening

Did it work? I cannot see anything...

What is happening? I cannot feel my limbs...

Did I overexert myself again? Ha...wait...what is...

...the txampay'weya...I can...see them...all...!

As Aonung was swimming quickly to grab Liyanin, the unthinkable had occurred.

Her eyes shot open immediately, but her irises were no longer their regular hue of blue. They were know illuminated, releasing a white glow. Her tanhì (bioluminescent freckles) were lit as well, all over her body. This obviously shocked Aonung; when her eyes had opened he almost let out a scream.

Her entire demeanor had changed—she was no longer limp in the water, her body starting to ascend. She shot straight out of the water, narrowly missing Aonung, courtesy to his sharp dodge. He hurriedly swam back above the water, only to see his sister hovering with her hands open at her sides.

Tsireya and Lo'ak were still there, and her sudden emergence scared them too. He was still concerned about whether or not his siblings were saved, but Liyanin's new appearance was distracting.

"Liya...?" Tsireya's voice poured out, baffled at what was going on.

Liyanin then rose her hands in front of her, seemingly reaching out for something. And when she did, nothing happened. Aonung looked up at her, his mouth agape.

"What is she...doing...?" Lo'ak asked, his voice quiet and trailing off.

Even though nothing happened, after a minute of her holding out her hand, the sea started to...rumble...?

Aonung felt the water shake, bewilderment rising in his head. To say he was confused was an understatement.

"Brother? Are you okay?!" Tsireya asked him, seeing his face that had worry all over.

"Something's happening with the water, Tsireya...she's doing something to the water!"

Suddenly, there was globs of water in the air, all hovering over the ocean itself. And in those globs, there were the txampay'weya.

Every, single, one.

"Is that...all of them?" Lo'ak said in astonishment. Liyanin, not seeming to acknowledge anyone there, flung her hand towards the five 'e'insey. The globs then became streams of water, going into each of them smoothly, the creatures filling up each jug.

"She is doing it! She is actually doing it!" Tsireya exclaimed. Lo'ak took this as an opportunity to go into the water and try to swim towards his siblings, hoping that everything was alright. He jumped in, swimming extremely fast towards them, not caring about if he would get a cramp from pushing himself too hard.

"Kiri! Kiri!" he shouted as he got closer to the canoe, but she didn't respond. Now he had reached it, and he grabbed on to it, swimming over to the side she was on to see. He saw Neteyam's legs hanging off the side, so then relief washed over him.

They made it, thank you Great Mother, he thought. But hearing the sound of coughing and crying made his relief disappear in an instant. "Kiri? What happened?" he asked. Now he was able to see Kiri, Neteyam, and Tuk, but Neteyam was laying down, writhing in pain and Tuk was seemingly knocked out, because her eyes were closed, appearing to be sleep. "Oh, no...don't tell me he..."

"He got stung!" she choked, holding his head on her lap. Lo'ak then climbed onto the canoe, wanting to see his wound, looking all over his body for it. He then turned his head towards Tuk.